Automatic flush actuation apparatus

Abstract

An automatic flush actuation apparatus, which is incorporated with a flushing system having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating therebetween, that includes a valve member being moved by a flush lever for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing from the water inlet to the water outlet, and a sensor-operated powering assembly including a relief valve provided at the valve member for controlling the water flowing to the water outlet and an actuator arranged in such a manner that while sensing a presence of a user of the flushing system, the actuator is driven to move the relief valve to an opened position for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing to said water outlet.

1. A automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said flush valve comprises:
 a valve member adapted for being sealedly disposed on said valve seat; and  
 a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:  
 a housing adapted for mounting on said valve body;  
 a replaceable power source received in the housing;  
 a power generator;  
 a CPU electrically connected with said power generator and said power source for activating said power generator while sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system;  
 a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper and an affixing end coupled with a bottom end of said water passage for applying a pulling force against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position; and  
 an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said valve stopper is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said valve stopper is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said fiat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.  
 
   
   
     2. An automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat, having a flush channel, normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, and a flush lever coupled with said valve body, wherein said flush valve comprises:
 a valve member adapted for being disposed at said valve seat to control said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sifting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber; and  
 a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:  
 a housing, which is adapted for mounting on said valve body;  
 a replaceable power source received in the housing;  
 a power generator;  
 a CPU electrically connected with said power generator and said power source for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system and activating said power generator;  
 a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet and comprises a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper and an affixing end coupled with a bottom end of said water passage for applying a pulling force against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position; and  
 an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said relief valve is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said relief valve is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.  
 
   
   
     3. An automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat, having a flush channel, normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, and a flush lever coupled with said valve body, wherein said flush valve comprises:
 a valve member adapted for being disposed at said valve seat to control said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said valve member comprises a sealing platform arranged for sealedly supporting on said valve seat to normally close said flush channel, and a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with said flush lever within said flush channel, wherein said water passage is coaxially extended from said sealing platform to a bottom end of said valve controlling shaft; and  
 a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:  
 a housing, which is adapted for mounting on said valve body;  
 a replaceable power source received in the housing;  
 a power generator;  
 a CPU electrically connected with said power generator and said power source for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system and activating said power generator;  
 a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper and an affixing end coupled with a bottom end of said water passage for applying a pulling force against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position; and  
 an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said relief valve is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said relief valve is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.  
 
   
   
     4. An automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat having a flush channel, normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, and a flush lever coupled with said valve body, wherein said flush valve comprises:
 a valve member adapted for being disposed at said valve seat to control said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said valve member comprises a sealing platform arranged for sealedly supporting on said valve seat to normally close said flush channel, and a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with said flush lever within said flush channel, wherein said water passage is coaxially extended from said sealing platform to a bottom end of said valve controlling shaft, wherein said sealing platform has a circular retaining seat protruding upwardly around said opening of said water passage; and  
 a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:  
 a housing, which is adapted for mounting on said valve body;  
 a replaceable power source received in the housing;  
 a power generator,  
 a CPU electrically connected with said power generator and said power source for activating said power generator while sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system;  
 a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position, wherein said valve stopper is disposed at said retaining seat of said sealing platform so as to hold said valve stopper in position; and  
 an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said relief valve is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said relief valve is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.  
 
   
   
     5. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said housing further comprises a locating ring integrally and downwardly protruded from a bottom side of said housing to coaxially align with said water passage so as to form as a boundary for said valve stopper to move within said locating ring. 
   
   
     6. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate. 
   
   
     7. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said CPU comprises a control processor supported in said housing and a sensor which is electrically connected to said control processor for detecting said presence of said user of said flushing system, so as to actuate said power generator through said control processor. 
   
   
     8. An automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said flush valve comprises:
 a valve member adapted for being sealedly disposed on said valve seat; and  
 a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:  
 a replaceable power source received in the housing;  
 a power generator;  
 a CPU electrically connected with said power generator and said power source for activating said power generator while sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system;  
 a housing adapted for mounting on said valve body, wherein said housing comprises a supporting frame having a power source compartment for receiving said power source therein and a CPU cavity for receiving said CPU therein, and a valve cap which has a transparent window aligned with said CPU and is adapted for mounting on said valve body to protectively enclose said supporting frame within said valve cap, wherein said valve cap comprises an outer casing having a power source opening aligned with said power source compartment to expose said power source to outside through said power source opening, and a power source cover detachably mounted on said outer casing to cover said power source opening, wherein said outer casing further has a CPU opening aligned with said CPU cavity to expose said CPU to outside through said CPU opening, wherein said transparent window is detachably mounted on said outer casing to enclose said CPU within said valve cap;  
 a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position; and  
 an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said valve stopper is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said valve stopper is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.  
 
   
   
     9. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said housing further comprises a locating ring integrally and downwardly protruded from a bottom side of said supporting frame to coaxially align with said water passage so as to form as a boundary for said valve stopper to move within said locating ring. 
   
   
     10. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate. 
   
   
     11. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said CPU comprises a control processor supported in said housing and a sensor which is electrically connected to said control processor for detecting said presence of said user of said flushing system, so as to actuate said power generator through said control processor.